Opinion

Why are Labor's failed policy architects still running the show?

We all know that it’s not easy to lose. It’s even harder when you and most of your mates thought you were going to win. It’s as true of politics as it is of so many other aspects of life. The difference in politics is that you can’t come back, as in football, next week. Federally, you get one shot every three years.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese and his front bench during question time at Parliament House.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The Canberra bubble is a different world. We rightly say that some politicians get so badly caught up in it that they lose touch with the day-to-day reality of life outside Canberra. Plenty of people outside that bubble don’t see much past their own little world either.

Many with decent incomes and a strong family have no concept of living on the edge and never knowing the security of a good family life. Equally, some battlers may mistakenly think that those with decent incomes and a secure family life have it easy. Life’s difficulties and disasters are nonetheless indifferent to the wealth of their victims. In short, we often don’t understand each other and yet expect politicians to have a grip on the rich diversity and complexity of life in Australia.

To put the boot on the other foot, consider what it would be like to be in the Labor Party in Canberra right now. The short answer is terrible. A cauldron of nastiness.

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I spent about 12 years in opposition. The experience of watching senior people cling to their positions, ignoring their own mistakes and purporting to hold some insight into where we should now head is less than gratifying. “Why don’t you lead us to the cliff face again?" is not the clarion call of ambitious young politicians. It’s more like, “Why are you still babbling all your bulldust?”

In Labor, the architects of the losing policies still hold senior positions. If you didn’t agree with the policies in the first place you would be forgiven for thinking that was both stupid and unfair. In the private sector, the architects of disaster usually get a “Don’t come Monday" notice. If you missed out on a shadow ministry you might quite reasonably harbour deep resentment.

Putting aside who came up with stupid policies, Labor has a fair few old guard. If you’ve had 15 years in and you’re now in opposition, you’ll be at nearly, and possibly over, 20 years before Labor is back in government. If you got in when you were very young that’s not a problem. But plenty are getting long in the tooth. They just won’t be able to present as fresh and energetic. Newer, younger members don’t see themselves as being there to keep you in a job.

Every successful retailer knows that old, slow-moving stock has to go. Chauncey Gardiner, in the movie Being There, surely knew that roses in full bloom are great, but they’re finished. Prune hard or you get a lot less new blooms.

The problem of those who designed losing policy and or are getting long in the tooth isn’t just about the serious business of building a team to form the next Labor government, whenever that might be. It’s about calling the shots on day-to-day tactics as well. Just imagine being a newish member who has yet to get a crack at taking responsibility and one of the old guard responsible in part for you being in opposition makes the wrong call on a parliamentary tactic. Your team gets written up as still making mistakes and you wonder why you and your mates have to wear the odium for this dope. It’s discouraging and often embitters people.

They also have to sort out among themselves who they want to be. Will they go back to a Hawke/Keating-style government or stick with the divisive “hate anyone richer than yourself" nonsense. This is a fundamental decision that they have to face well before the next election. They need time to sell who they are to the electorate. You can’t fatten a cow on the way to market, so they have no time to waste.

It will be easier said than done. Those still there from the last election probably think the policies were on track and just need tweaking, or need to be explained more effectively. They’ll be reluctant to see or perhaps admit the error of having slipped into the old school, out of date, us and them mentality. So don’t expect willing mea culpas from any of them. Yet the clock keeps ticking and those who understand the aspirational aspect of Australians will want to get cracking.

A few will already be thinking that Labor might have two more terms in opposition. History doesn’t favour Albanese. Both the weak and the ambitious will be trying to walk a fine line between appearing loyal to Albo and positioning themselves for future glory.

These aren’t theoretical issues. In Canberra, away from family and friends, it’s the day-to-day diet. You're in the chamber, in party meetings, in the dining room with each other. You exchange pleasantries with each other, sit next to each other and look each other in the eye.

If the youngish upstart talks to the older experienced member as an equal it may not go well. If the experienced member thinks of all the new people as whippersnappers on training wheels nastiness will fester. Pride causes injury that heals slowly.

The icing on this ugly cake is that a good number of the Labor members didn’t vote for Albo for leader last time. They’re dopes and he knows it. But maybe they don’t.